Korean Canadian Doctor Claims She Was Racially Profiled as a ‘Prostitute’ After Moving to Australia

Dr. Alice Han, an accomplished medical professional, women’s health expert, and a TEDx speaker, opened up about allegedly being subjected to some racial profiling immediately after moving to Australia.

Her experience with prejudice, which she shared in an interview with 10daily, happened on May 18 after her car got a flat tire as she was driving from Brisbane to Melbourne.

The Harvard-educated doctor narrated that she was dropped off by a tow truck driver dropped at the closest motel. Upon checking online, the motel had a vacancy before 9:30 p.m.

Shortly after, she ended up having a 10-minute argument with the motel owner which she could only describe as “rough and aggressive” before she got kicked off the establishment.

“He asked me ‘are you a working girl? Is that how you can afford the room?’. At first, I didn’t know what he was referring to,” she was quoted as saying.

According to Han, she explained that she was meant to be staying in a hotel in Coffs Harbour but couldn’t get there because her car had a flat tire.

“He said ‘Your story sounds suspicious, we had a girl a few nights ago with a story like yours working out of her room and so we had to kick her out,'” she added.

“I then said, what do you mean? A prostitute?”

She explained that she was not a prostitute but a doctor and a former instructor at Harvard Medical School and offered her ID. She then proceeded to re-book a room online since the hotel booking website had credited her room in Coffs Harbour.

“The man became angrier, he said the fact that you are so selfish and inconsiderate in my reception area tells me you’ll be inconsiderate and selfish in the room. We are very selective about who we allow to stay,” she said.

Han claimed that the owner verbally abused her and forced her out onto the street.

In a later interview, the owner denied racially profiling Han but admitted to repeatedly asking her if she was a sex worker.

“After getting out of bed to let her in after our reception closed, I found her behavior rude and inconsiderate to book online and not directly with us, that’s all it was about.”

“Yes, I had a reasonable inquiry about her being a working girl, because why would a lady turn up so late by herself and not call ahead or the insurance company not call ahead?”

He further accused Han of “playing the race card.”

While Han said she reported the motel incident to the local police, it was later confirmed by the NSW Police that they were not investigating the incident since her race was never mentioned during the exchange, reports ABC.

After finding another motel in Grafton that night, Han proceeded to the train station the next morning so she could reach Coffs Harbour by train.